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All I succeed in doing is making myself sweaty and breathless.
Heaving in a breath of stale air, despair washes over me like a wave of cold, muddy water. My body feels heavy and weighed down before numbness replaces it. My head pounds like a marching band beating inside my skull.
My eyes grow wet and my vision blurs, hating that I’m in this predicament and not knowing why.
Sniffing hard, I close my eyes, sucking in a breath. I hold it for a few beats, then release it.
You can’t cry or give in. You’re stronger than this.
Focus!
Opening my eyes, I ignore my pounding head, searching through my memories to give me some clue of where I am and what happened to me.
The last thing I remember is walking out of Will’s office, the brisk December air causing me to tighten my jacket around me. I hurried to my car since I had forgotten to grab my gloves. My phone beeped with a text message and I looked down at it. It was from Savannah.
Savannah:I rarely get sappy but today I am, so brace yourself. I’m a closed off introvert who has been through hell and back. I wasn’t always this way. I wasn’t always the recluse that I’d become until the shit with my stepdad. You met me at the lowest point in my life. I had no one… until you. You refused to give up on me. Despite all my efforts to push you away, you wouldn’t be deterred. You’re the sister I always wanted but never had, and the bestest best friend I could ask for. It means the world to me that you chose me to be your maid of honor. I hope that one day, I meet a man who loves me half as much as Will loves you. More than that, I hope I’m not so afraid of it that I push him away. I think it’s worse to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Once you’ve experienced love, losing it seems to be the worst form of misery and torture. Anyway, sorry to get all morbid on you. I just wanted to say thank you and… I love you, girl.
Tears were in my eyes as I reread her sweet, touching message, my heart warming. I was touched that she sent me such a sweet message, knowing how hard that must have been for her.
I opened my car door, intending to slide inside, start it up, and turn the heat on before responding, and then… everything is hazy.
Shaking my head, I clench my jaw, my frustration mounting. Panic slams through my body, wondering where I am.
And where is Will?
Does he know I’m missing?
How long have I been gone?
Who the hell has me, and what do they want?
My insides quiver from the fear of the unknown and not having any control right now. My chest tightens while my breathing accelerates until I feel dizzy, like I can’t take in enough air.
When I think I’m about to completely lose it, Will’s soothing voice is like a calming breeze inside my head. “Just breathe, Everleigh. In and out, purposefully. Focus on me and only me.”
Closing my eyes, I see him in front of me, his heated breaths caressing my face like the warmth of a summer day. His light blue eyes are magnetic, drawing me in, making me forget everything and everyone exists around me. I breathe in time with him, his exhales becoming my inhales. The spice and woods aroma comforts me, as does his touch when his knuckles graze my cheek, feather-light and soothing. My muscles uncoil and the fear that paralyzes me vanishes.
A smile curls my lips up as my eyes pop open.
But it feels like I’ve been punched in the stomach as the desolate, cold room comes into focus.
I’m still here, wherever the hell here is.
Inside this cold, barren, dimly lit dungeon.
My muscles tense as resolve courses through me.
I need to stop this shit and focus on getting the hell out of here.
Lifting my head, I fight against the ropes, moving my hands in all different directions. Ignoring the burn of their abrasive texture against my skin, I try like hell to loosen them so I can get free. A low grunt escapes me from my efforts, beads of sweat trickling down my spine and forehead.
Once I get my wrists loose, I’ll remove the ropes from my ankles. I’ll need to get the circulation going before I try to get to my feet and—
The sound of male voices penetrates my ears, distant at first. I halt my movements, ears straining, my heart pounding inside my ears. As their footsteps draw closer, their voices rise and echo from the concrete walls.
Laying my head down, I close my eyes, pretending to be unconscious. Holding my breath, I pray that whoever is approaching won’t know I’m awake.
“Why the fuck did you grab her now? We’re not ready yet, you incompetent fucking moron,” a deep, angry voice hisses.
